Local News

Bridges putting the finishing touches on a floral arrangement. Bridges started and founded her business, Callie's custom design's during her freshman year of high school. (Submitted Photo / Callie Bridges).

Bridges putting the finishing touches on a floral arrangement. Bridges started and founded her business, Callie's custom design's during her freshman year of high school. (Submitted Photo / Callie Bridges).

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Classroom to creations: Bridges finds success with floral business

Jacob Harper
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
What started as a contest in middle school has transformed into a successful business for Callie Bridges. Bridges, a senior at OCHS, began Callie’s Custom Designs in high school after competing in the Floral Design CDE through the Georgia FFA.
The Oglethorpe Echo

The Oglethorpe Echo

Local Roundup

News Staff
Thursday, October 2, 2025
Monday is final day to register to vote in next month’s elections Staff Report The last day to register to vote for next month’s general and special election is Monday, Oct. 6. There are three ways to register:Go to the Georgia Secretary of State’s website: mvp.sos.ga.gov.
Crawford resident Erica Lillard helps her daughter, Clementine, make a pirate hat during Homeschool Hangout at the Oglethorpe County Library on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo / Drew Bearden)

Crawford resident Erica Lillard helps her daughter, Clementine, make a pirate hat during Homeschool Hangout at the Oglethorpe County Library on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo / Drew Bearden)

Homeschool Hangout gains traction at library

Drew Bearden
Thursday, October 2, 2025
For years, homeschool families in Oglethorpe County had to travel to neighboring counties for alternative schooling programs or enrichment activities. Now, a short drive to the Oglethorpe County Library for the Homeschool Hangout Program gives them a chance to meet closer to home.
Smithonia's Ryne Rankin, owner and operator or Boars N' Broads, shows a 391.6-pound feral hog that he helped kill in the eastern part of Oglethorpe County on Sept. 1. Boars N' Broads used dogs to hunt and harvest feral pigs.

Smithonia's Ryne Rankin, owner and operator or Boars N' Broads, shows a 391.6-pound feral hog that he helped kill in the eastern part of Oglethorpe County on Sept. 1. Boars N' Broads used dogs to hunt and harvest feral pigs.

From Dawgs to hogs

Jacob Harper
Thursday, October 2, 2025
Ryne Rankin said he knew the hunt that day was going to be one for the books, and he was right. He and his team took down a 391.6-pound hog between Lexington and Rayle on Sept. 1.
Terry Allen of Lexington waves from the driver's seat of his 1949 MG TC at the Firefly Cruise-In in Lexington, Georgia on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. Allen, who also has several other British cars, started the Bulldog British Classics Car Club in 2024, which is a local group that hosts at least two events a month for British car fanatics. (Photo/Susanna Johnson)

Terry Allen of Lexington waves from the driver's seat of his 1949 MG TC at the Firefly Cruise-In in Lexington, Georgia on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. Allen, who also has several other British cars, started the Bulldog British Classics Car Club in 2024, which is a local group that hosts at least two events a month for British car fanatics. (Photo/Susanna Johnson)

PHOTOS: 14th Annual Firefly Cruise-in

Susanna Johnson
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
The Oglethorpe County Chamber of Commerce hosted the 14th annual Firefly Cruise-in on Sunday. Competitors brought their vintage cars, trucks, motorcyles and UTVs to the Courthouse Square to be admired by the public and to vie for prizes.
Kristan Ryan, owner of ArtGirl's Out Loud Art Gallery in Lexington, explains the story behind one of her pieces on display. Though much of her work is political, Ryan said her art advocates for suffering men, women and children. (Hannah Freeman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Kristan Ryan, owner of ArtGirl's Out Loud Art Gallery in Lexington, explains the story behind one of her pieces on display. Though much of her work is political, Ryan said her art advocates for suffering men, women and children. (Hannah Freeman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Ryan builds followers through her portraits

Hannah Freeman
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
WATCH: ArtGirl fights for freedom with her paintings In the quiet of downtown Lexington, Kristan Ryan — known locally as ArtGirl — is turning pain into powerful portraits.  “I think it’s really even more important for me to paint things that I feel help people who are suffering,” Ryan said.
Graphic/Sophia Eppley

Graphic/Sophia Eppley

County budget on agenda for commission meeting

Sophia Eppley
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Oglethorpe County usually allocates the majority of its budget to public safety, specifically to the Sheriff's Office, jail and emergency medical services (EMS).  The FY26 budget, which is being finalized and will be on the agenda for the Board of Commissioners at their Oct. 6 meeting (6 p.m.
The Marigold Auditorium, a hub for community events, recently underwent renovations, including a new sign on the building, after receiving a grant through the Fox Gives initiative. “The Haunting of Hill House” will be held there this weekend. (Ansley Gavlak/The Oglethorpe Echo)

The Marigold Auditorium, a hub for community events, recently underwent renovations, including a new sign on the building, after receiving a grant through the Fox Gives initiative. “The Haunting of Hill House” will be held there this weekend. (Ansley Gavlak/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Marigold Auditorium to host first play since renovations

Ansley Gavlak
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
The Winterville Players have brought many years of performances to the Marigold Auditorium, but their latest show, “The Haunting of Hill House,” will be the first since major renovations were completed.
Willie Torres stands in front of the counter of his restaurant, Town and Country Kafe, that he co-owns with his wife, Amy Delfin-Torres. The couple decided to put the restaurant on the market after three years to pursue other personal opportunities like traveling. (photo/Emily Adams)

Willie Torres stands in front of the counter of his restaurant, Town and Country Kafe, that he co-owns with his wife, Amy Delfin-Torres. The couple decided to put the restaurant on the market after three years to pursue other personal opportunities like traveling. (photo/Emily Adams)

Torreses opt for new path, put restaurant up for sale

Emily Adams
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
The sale of Town and Country Kafe in Crawford will mark a new chapter for owners Willie Torres and Amy Delfin-Torres. After three years of owning the restaurant, the couple is selling to “pursue new opportunities and personal growth.
Oglethorpe County FFA officers prepare flowers for the floral design contest Thursday in the high school cafeteria. From left, sophomore Katherine Horsley, senior Daisy Brown and senior Andee Dellinger organized vases and flowers before students arrived to compete. (Photo/Ella Jones)

Oglethorpe County FFA officers prepare flowers for the floral design contest Thursday in the high school cafeteria. From left, sophomore Katherine Horsley, senior Daisy Brown and senior Andee Dellinger organized vases and flowers before students arrived to compete. (Photo/Ella Jones)

FFA competition brings hundreds of students to Oglethorpe County

Ella Jones
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
For senior Callie Bridges, the floral design competition at Oglethorpe County High School was both a test and an opportunity to showcase her small business. The contest required a timed arrangement, an identification exam and a written exam.